Indian Army ready with relief at border

In keeping with external affairs ministry directives for cross-border quake relief, the Army Cross-Border Meeting Camp is ready to become operational along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, but still awaits the Pakistan government's nod.

"We have readied our infrastructure, to provide medical aid and relief to the quake-hit divided families, on forward posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to become operational," 16 Corps Brigade Commander A K Bakshi said.

However, no official from the Pakistan army has had talks with Indian ground officers.

"We are ready. It is now for Pakistan to take the lead. Our camp will become operational on Tuesday morning," Brigadier Bakshi said.

He said the Indian Army had set up three medical-cum-relief centres along the LoC at Kaman Post (Uri), Teetwal (Tangdhar) and Chakan-da-Bagh (Poonch) as per the directives of the Ministry of External Affairs for earthquake relief to people living across the border.

The camp was ready with a 10-bed emergency hospital, 100-ward hospital, meeting place for divided families, a media centre and a relief centre besides community kitchens at Chakan-da-Bagh, he said.

He said a three-km stretch linking Chakan-da-Bagh with Tetrinote forward village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir had been completed in 36 hours.